Prayer Alert (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

Laos-update 06

Description: FYI #56, 2006-10-29, Pray for SEA

LAOS

(Lao People's Democratic Republic)

Updated 29 October 2006

 

Capital: Vientiane

Government type: Communist

Independence: 19 July 1949 (from France)

 

Chief of State: President Lt. Gen. Choummali Saignason (since 8 June 2006) and Vice President Boun-Gnang Volachit (since 8 June 2006)
Head of Government: Prime Minister Bouasone Bouphavanh (since 8 June 2006); Deputy Prime Minister Maj. Gen. Asang Laoli (since May 2002), Deputy Prime Minister Maj. Gen. Douangchai Phichit [since 8 June 2006], Deputy Prime Minister Somsavat Lengsavat (since 26 February 1998), and Deputy Prime Minister Thongloun Sisolit (since 27 March 2001)
Cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president, approved by the National Assembly.

 

State Religion: None

 

Statistics  

Population: 6,368,481 (July 2006 est.) Lao Loum (lowland) 68%, Lao Theung (upland) 22%, Lao Soung (highland) including the Hmong and the Yao 9%, ethnic Vietnamese/Chinese 1%

Religions (estimated): Buddhist 60%, animist and other 40% [including various Christian denominations 2%]

Unemployment: 2.4% (2005 est.)

Population below poverty line: 34% (2002 est.)

Laos receives aid from the International Monetary Fund, other international sources and new foreign investment in food-processing and mining, notably of copper and gold. However, its economic development is said to be held back by serious brain drain. A 2005 World Bank study reported that 37% of the educated Laotians lived abroad, putting the country in 5th place for worst brain drain.

 

Tourism is the fastest growing industry in the country.

 

Political Development & Human Rights

The Lao People's Democratic Republic is an authoritarian, Communist, one-party state ruled by the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP). The most recent elections took place in April 2006. The National Assembly was then expanded to 115 members. This National Assembly, which essentially acts as a rubber stamp for the LPRP, approves all new laws. The executive branch retains authority to issue binding decrees.

 

Non-communist political groups are prohibited; most opposition leaders have fled the country in 1975. All dissent in Laos is suppressed, so information is difficult to obtain.

 

  • The internal armed-conflict with predominantly ethnic Hmong rebel groups continues with many reports of torture and ill-treatment.
  • Attacks continue to take place sporadically throughout the country, but are difficult to attribute to a specific political movement.
  • In June 2005, Laos ratified two International Labour Organization (ILO) Conventions for ending child labour. However, it has not ratified the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, which was signed in December 2000.
  • The law provides for the independence of the judiciary; however, senior government and party officials continue to influence the courts. Reportedly, some judges could be bribed.
  • Citizens' privacy rights are limited through a vast surveillance network. Security laws allow the government to monitor individuals' private communications (including e‑mail and cell phones) and movements. The government controls all domestic Internet servers and occasionally blocks access to Internet sites that are deemed pornographic or critical of government institutions and policies.
  • The law provides for freedom of speech and of the press; in practice, the government severely restricts political speech and writing. Loas is ranked 156th out of 168 countries in the RSF Worldwide Press Freedom Index 2006. 

 

Religious Freedom

The Lao Front for National Construction (LFNC), the popular front organization for LPRP, oversees religious practices.  Although the state is secular and there is no national religion, the government's support for the promotion of Buddhist practices gives Buddhism an elevated status among the country's religions.

 

Despite the constitutional guarantee of freedom of religion, authorities at the local level interfere with this right. Religious groups, particularly evangelical Christian groups, face varying degrees of harassment and persecution. Some were reportedly forced to renounce their faith.

 

  • In 2005, local authorities arrested or detained approximately 35 Christians in Savannakhet and Bokeo provinces and in Vientiane City. While many were released within a few days, two were brought to trial and eventually convicted of weapons trafficking. Their arrest and conviction were perceived to be motivated by local officials' desire to force the men to renounce their faith.
  • In early 2006, a village chief in Oudomsai Province confiscated the land of several Christian families. A Christian in Salavan Province has been under house arrest since April 1, 2006 for refusing to renounce his faith.
  • Two of the more active "underground" denominations, Methodists and Jehovah's Witnesses, have unsuccessfully sought official government approval for their activities. The Government's desire to consolidate religious practices for purpose of control has effectively blocked new registrations.
  • Followers of the Baha'i Faith are able to practice their religion without hindrance in Vientiane City, but face restrictions from the local authorities in Savannakhet and Khammouane provinces.
  • The small Muslim community in Vientiane, made up almost exclusively of foreign nationals, is able to practice its religion without hindrance.
  • The government strictly prohibits foreigners from proselytizing, although it permits foreign NGOs with religious affiliations to work in the country.
  • The government permits the printing, import, and distribution of Buddhist religious material, but it makes no such concession to the printing or import of religious materials by non‑Buddhist faiths.

There are generally amicable relations among the various religious groups, although differences in religious beliefs among villagers led to tensions. Conflicts between ethnic groups sometimes exacerbate religious tensions.

In its official pronouncements in recent years, the Government has called for conciliation and equality between religious faiths. The LFNC continues to instruct local officials on religious tolerance.

The Church

The LFNC recognizes two Protestant groups: the Lao Evangelical Church (LEC), the umbrella Protestant church, and the Seventh‑day Adventist Church. Approximately 300 Protestant congregations conduct services throughout the country.

 

AS the LEC grows, diversity of views has increasingly emerged among adherents and pastors. Some churches have sought independence from the LEC and have forged their own connection with churches abroad. This causes tensions within the Christianity community. In early 2006 the Methodists once again requested to register with the Government as a religious group separate and apart from the LEC.

 

The Church is viewed with considerable suspicion and Christianity is still regarded as potentially subversive religion. The reasons are attributed to the rapid growth, contacts with religious groups abroad, active proselytizing, independence of government control, and a membership comprises mostly of ethnic Mon-Khmer tribes and the Hmong, who historically have resisted central Government control. Some authorities interpret Christian teachings of obedience to God as signifying disloyalty to the Government and ruling party.

 

The Church continues to come under government scrutiny. Although hampered by restricted religious freedom, insufficient trained-leaders or clergy, and a congregation with little economic clout, the Church is growing and slowly making itself felt in Lao society.

 

The Lord God is my strength, and He has made my feet like hinds’ feet, and makes me walk on my high places (Habakkuk 3:19).

 

Continue to pray:

1.              Democracy in both political and judiciary systems. Integrity for politicians and judges.

2.              God’s intervention: change of heart and mind of the leadership, respect for human rights especially of the minorities and Protestant Christians.

3.              The Church:

a.       United and sanctified; Christians continue to be a blessing and salt & light in Lao society; financial blessing.

b.      God's grace, patience and strengthen for those facing opposition from non-Christian relatives.

c.       The printing and import of Christian materials.

d.      The ongoing translation of the Old Testament into Lao; may God make it possible for the Bible to be printed in country; more translators from within the tribes. 

 

Reference:

  1. CIA Factbook, Oct 5, 2006.
  2. Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2005, released March 2006
  3. International Religious Freedom Report September 2006
  4. Amnesty International 2006
  5. Human Rights Watch World Report 2006
  6. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laos
  7. Robbie B. H. Goh, Christianity in Southeast Asia. Singapore: ISEAS Pub., 2005.
  8. The 4th Southeast Asia Prayer Consultation (SEAPC), 10-14 October 2006. Batam, Indonesia.  

 



[ Back ] [ Print Friendly ]